Base for cleanser cans and the like



y 1954 s. WALLACE 2,683,579

BASE FOR CLEANSER CANS AND THE LIKE Filed. Aug. 18. 1952 11; l mummummlll IIILIIIHIH IILIIHIIIHIHIHIH I INVENTOR. 57ANL E Y MLLACEArramvsw Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a base or holder for a cleanser can or thelike. The invention is particularly directed toward the provision of asuitable attachment base for a can, such as a can of cleanser, which isused around porcelain enamel finished surfaces such as sinks, washbowls, etc., where the user will desire to frequently set the can down.One of the objects of the invention is to provide a base giving the cana better stability against tipping over. Another and important object isto provide a base of cushioning, non-abrasive material which protectsthe porcelain finished surfaces of sinks. wash bowls, kitchen stoves,refrigerator, etc., from being scratched by the cleanser can, in theevent the operator should set the can on such surface.

A further object is to provide such a holder or base, which is of quitesimple and inexpensive yet durable construction.

A further object is to provide such a holder or base, of one piecemolded construction, having means for facilitating its attachment to acan and detachment from the can.

Other objects will become apparent in the ensuing specifications andappended drawings in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a base embodying my invention, andillustrating, in phantom, a cleanser can supported therein;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supporting base;

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the same;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the same with a portion thereof brokenout and shown in radial section;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view thereof and Fig. 6 is anenlarged detail sectional view showing how the bottom of a can is heldin the base member.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, I have shown in Fig. 1, inphantom, at A, a cleanser can supported in the base of my invention,indicated generally at B.

The base B is of circular form, and has a cross section which isgenerally of J-shape, including cylindrical axial flange E, projectingupwardly a radially outwardly projecting base flange 'I, and asupporting ring i3 which is spaced radially inwardly from the innermargin of base flange l.

Base flange i has a flat bottom face 3, in which is an annularconcentric groove 9. In cross section, groove 9 is relatively wide atthe bottom face 8 into which it opens, and has an upper portion which isnarrowed toward the top thereof. The

inner face of this upper portion of the groove, on the outer side of thegroove, is substantially parallel to the curvature of the outer face ofthe base ring, where flange 6 is joined to flange l by a downwardly andoutwardly flaring web [0. The inner face of the upper portion of groove9 flares downwardly and inwardly to provide a relatively thin web l2which joins flange 6 to the supporting ring l3. Supporting ring l3projects radially inwardly from the common inner wall of vertical flange6 and web to, and has an upper face providing a relatively flatsupporting shoulder l4 against which the bottom of can A is adapted torest. The lower face of supporting ring 13 lies in a common plane withthe bottom face 8 of flange l, and in effect constitutes a discontinuousextension thereof.

The upper portion of groove 9 extends to a substantial height abovesupporting shoulder l4, whereby, as a cleanser can is inserted intoflange S, the bead l5 at the base of the cleanser can will stretch theweb wall l2 radially outwardly into the annular groove 9, partiallycollapsing the same. The flange 6 will of course be stretched also asthe can is being inserted, but will return to its normal diameter afterbead l5 has passed below the lower extremity of the solid portion offlange Hi (i. e., below the upper portion of groove 9). Flange 6 offersconsiderably more resistance to such movement than does web [2, andconsequently, the base will be tightly locked to the can when bead l5has come to rest against supporting shoulder :4 as shown in Fig. 5. Theflexible web [2, together with groove 9, in eflect, provides a resilientlatching means for reception of the bead l5 within the confines of therelatively inflexible supporting flange 1, without the necessity oftransmitting any stretching force to the latter. In this connection, Ihave discovered that if the groove 9, were omitted, the stretching forceapplied to flange 1 would cause the latter to buckle and make itimpossible for it to retain a flat shape such as to rest flatly upon asupporting surface. Furthermore, it would be extremely difficult toinsert the can to its full depth within flange 6, and to remove the basefrom the can.

It will be understood that the base is constructed of a relatively soft,resilient material having generally the characteristics of soft rubber.A suitable material is one of the softer, more plasticized syntheticresins within the group including the Vinyl plastics. Such a materialhas a relatively stable form retaining characteristic and yet does havesufficient stretch to allow the 3 insertion of the can into the basewithout difficulty.

I claim:

1. A supporting base for a can having a bottom the periphery of whichhas a bead projecting radially from the lateral wall of the can, saidbase being in the form of a circular annulus, ineluding a horizontalbase flange with a fiat lower face to rest upon a supporting surface, anannular web curved inwardly and upwardly from said base flange, an axialflange projecting upwardly from the inner margin of said annular web, asupporting ring spaced radially inwardly from the inner margin of saidhorizontal base flange and having an upper face constituting asupporting shoulder, and a relatively thin annular vertical Web walljoining said supporting ring to the lower eX- treinity of said verticalflange, said base having annular groove embraced radially between theinner margin of said base flange and the outer margin of said supportingring and extending above the plane of the supporting shoulder, saidvertical web and vertical flange having a common cylindrical inner wall,said supporting ring projecting radially inwardly from said inner wall,and said web wall being adapted to readily stretch radially into saidannular groove to accommodate said bottom bead of said can.

2. A supporting base as defined in claim 1, wherein said annular groovehas an upper portion which is narrowed toward the top thereof.

3. A supporting base as defined in claim 1, wherein said axial flange ismaterially thicker than said vertical Web, and has a lower extremity,

at the top of said groove, which provides an abutment which isoperative, through the thickness of said vertical web, to retain saidhead securely against accidental withdrawal from said supporting base.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 862,953 Westlake Aug. 13, 1907 2,278,083 Lowe Mar. 31, 19422,429,958 Liebman Oct. 28, 1947

